Through it’s highly acclaimed Spiritual Jazz compilation series, the London-based label Jazzman Records has shed light and unearthed some of the greatest and most obscure spiritual jazz recordings from all corners of the globe. Most recently, the series has dove deep into the vaults of groundbreaking labels like Blue Note, Prestige, and Steeplechase. With their 12th volume of the series, Jazzman continues it’s label focus, exploring “the house that Trane built,” better known as Impulse! Records.

When it comes to spiritual jazz, Impulse! Records is arguably the greatest label to ever exist. Established early on by legendary producers Creed Taylor (1960) and Bob Thiele (1961-69), this label featured some of the landmark recordings of our time by jazz greats John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Yusef Lateef, Archie Shepp, Max Roach, McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, Freddie Hubbard, Marion Brown, Sun Ra, Charles Mingus, and others.

Some of these monumental albums include John Coltrane’s 1964 masterpiece A Love Supreme, Pharoah Sanders’ 1969 avant-spiritual classic Karma, Alice Coltrane’s essential 1970 cosmic sonic voyage Journey in Satchidananda, Archie Shepp’s powerful and soulful protest recording Attica Blues, and many more. Keeping with an independent “music-first” ethos, yet receiving major label financial support, the iconic label was able to recruit the top musicians of the time period and give them musical freedom to be adventurous in their sound, and make strong statements with the music’s underlying messages. During the sixties and seventies, their bold slogan of “The New Wave Of Jazz Is On Impulse!” truly captured the essence of what the label was all about.

With this 17-track triple LP, Jazzman has brilliantly compiled many of the greatest recordings and spiritual jazz moments from the Impulse! archives. From “Part 1 Acknowledgment” from John Coltane’s A Love Supreme, to Michael White’s meditative spiritual “The Blessing Song” and Freddie Hubbard’s often overlooked soulful hard-bop gem “The 7th Day”, this expansive compilation covers a lot of ground.

What’s also great about this release is that a donation from the proceeds of this album will be made to anti-racism charities in the UK and the US.

Overall, Jazzman Records has once again put together a great new and well-crafted compilation, adding an essential and important chapter to the already masterful Spiritual Jazz series.

Various — ‘Spiritual Jazz Vol. 12: Impulse!’
(Jazzman Records)

1. John Coltrane – A Love Supreme – Pt 1 Acknowledgement
2. Elvin Jones – Fantazm
3. Max Roach – Lonesome Lover
4. Yusef Lateef – Sister Mamie
5. Freddie Hubbard – The 7th Day
6. McCoy Tyner – Three Flowers
7. Elvin Jones – Half & Half
8. McCoy Tyner – Groove Waltz
9. Archie Shepp – Le Matin Des Noire
10. Michael White – The Blessing Song
11. Alice Coltrane – Turiya & Ramakrishna
12. Phil Woods – A Taste Of Honey
13. Pharoah Sanders – Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah
14. John Klemmer – Constant Throb (Part 1)
15. Pharoah Sanders – Thembi
16. Marion Brown – Maimoun
17. Alice Coltrane – Journey In Satchidananda

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• Compilation
• Jazz
• New Releases
• Spiritual Jazz